Angry Bush Calls Clinton Draft Dodger

Democrat Plans Trip To Gop Strongholds

October 17, 1992|By N.Y. Times News Service

EDISON, N.J. — Angered by a crowd packed with jeering supporters of Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, President Bush on Friday broke out of a speech that was supposed to unveil a new car insurance plan and for the first time directly accused his Democratic opponent of evading the draft.

It was not clear whether Bush was consciously trying to accuse Clinton of criminal conduct or if he merely became twisted in his words because of his evident anger.

Bush, looking tired and with his voice hoarse after Thursday night's second presidential debate, also denounced a group of college-age protesters on the campus of Middlesex County College as ``draft dodgers,'' although many of them were not even born when the military induction program was last in effect.

Bush stopped at the campus for what was supposed to have been a triumphant post-debate rally that the president's advisers hoped would help lift his campaign in New Jersey. The campaign had invited most of the prominent Republicans in the area to join him, including former Gov. Thomas H. Kean.

But the crowd grew increasingly provocative, shouting at Bush, ``Liar! Liar!'' and ``No more Bush!''

``I wish these draft dodgers would shut up so I can finish my speech,'' Bush said at one point. ``Pathetic!''

By contrast, there was so much boasting among the Democrats that Clinton, embarking Friday on a bus trip through Louisiana, cautioned his supporters against overconfidence.

The Bush campaign could take little comfort in the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll, conducted before and during Thursday's debate, which found that in Illinois, 48 percent of registered voters are for Clinton, 29 percent for Bush and 10 percent for Ross Perot.

The Clinton campaign also exuded a sunny optimism in another way: A senior aide took the unusual step of disclosing the candidate's travel plans for the next week, detailing a trip that will take the Arkansas governor to Western states often ignored by past Democratic presidential contenders.

In a close race, such tactical information would be tightly guarded as part of efforts to keep the other side off stride. The disclosure by the Clinton aide serves to tweak President Bush's campaign - and to suggest surprising strength for the Democrat in such generally formidable GOP strongholds as Nevada and Wyoming, which are part of his itinerary.